N.Z. SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 14

N.Z. SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS

« | (By Telecra.ph—Press Association.) Auckland, August MO. The third annual meeting of tho New Zealand Society of Accountants was held at the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. l'eter BtSrr, president, ill the chair. The presentation of two easy chairs, a book-case, a. roll-top desk, and a portfolio with an address was mado to, Mr. Barr as a memento of his tenure of office as president. • ; The annual report and statement of accounts, as circulated among members, wore adopted. The president, in his address, stated that. Messrs. Towsley, Henry Shaw, ar.d Andrew Wilson had been for various reasons compelled to retire, and .expressed regret for this necessity. It must be a source of great-'satisfaction to them, and he trusted to the mercantile community also that tho examinations of the society were rion conducted by the .University, and that at tho first of such examinations in November last there was a record entry . for accountancy examinations in ustralnsia. The papers set were throughout of an exceedingly high standard, tliis being the. only means of securing a recognition of tho society's diploma by the business and commercial world, and so making its membership a position of-hon-our and high standing. Tho subsidy from the society and institute', supplemented by the Government, had enabled the University Councils to appoint lecturers on tho subjects of the examinations, and the result could not but prove of tho greatest assistance to students. He suggested last year that the society, through its council, might fittingly have tho right to nominate a member on each of tine , University Councils, but the suggestion, when passed 011 to the then Minister for Education, had not been favourably received. The council at its meeting in March expressed the opinion that the reason, given was insufficient,'and he (tho president) now reiterated the opinion.- Steady progress in the -students' societies had been made. Great satisfaction was, ho believed, felt' by tho society by tho appointment of its president to a seat 011 tho Ko.val' Commission set up to report upon tho classification of the Civil Service. 110 heartily congratulated a member of the council (Mr. if. It. Spence) 011 his recent appointment by tho Government to tho responsible position of Customs officer for the Dominion in London. Tho .headquarters of "tho society woro likely within a few months to be located in a new building at Wellington. He. entirely disagreed with the expression ofs opinion contained in the recent report of the Education Commission, to tho effect 'that the secondary schools should not provide for tho teaching of bookkeeping. A motion by the president providing for an alteration of tho regulations governing the retirement of members of the council was carried. Mr. W. E. Best (Canterbury) moved that every person entitled to admission as a member of the society by virtue of the qualifications existing before September 1, 1912, and failing to apply for ad- . -mission within six months from the date, should pay a feo of ,£lO 10s. for fellows, and' as. for associates. Tho motion was carried, with an amendment of the period of six months to twelve months. A motion by. Mr. Henry Shaw (Auckland), providing for an amendment of the society's regulations in respect to' local branches, was ;withdrawn. Mr. G. W. Hutchison (Auckland) moved:—"That this meeting requests tho council to have the New Zealand Society of Accountants Act, 1908, amended by tile addition of the words .to Sub-section 1 of Section 32, 'or is carrying on business as .1 practising accountant.'" Tho motion was carried. Messrs. Dimock and ICellow were reelected auditors, at an annual fee of 20 guineas each. .